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Down-Home Pasta Bake

CasseroleItalianTurkey

Time: 45 minutes

Yield: 8 servings

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About

Welcome home! It's been a busy day, and you could use a good, home cooked meal. Better yet, something hearty and warming and just comforting. Well, your wish is about to come true! Down-Home Pasta Bake is filled with savory ground turkey in a rich tomato sauce with notes of wine and beefy mushrooms, all coating tender rigatoni pasta! Then it's all baked so the cheesy top can become melty and tantalizing! Yes, Down-Home Pasta Bake is how you unwind any day of the week!

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Ingredients

  • 1 pound rigatoni pasta
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 pound ground turkey
  • 1 cup mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 cup onion, finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
  • 2 (13.5-ounce) cans tomato sauce
  • 2 tablespoons red or white wine, can substitute balsamic vinegar
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 3 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded, can substitute cheddar cheese

Directions

Step 1 -Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Step 2 -In a large pot of salted, boiling water, cook the pasta to al dente, according to the package directions.

Step 3 -Drain the pasta well and rinse it with cold water.

Step 4 -In a large pot over medium-high heat, heat the olive oil until it sizzles.

Step 5 -Add the ground turkey to the hot oil and cook, while crumbling, until evenly browned, about 8-10 minutes.

Step 6 -Add the mushrooms, the onion, and the garlic and cook, while stirring well, until tender, about 3-4 minutes.

Step 7 -Add the tomato sauce and the wine to the turkey mixture and stir to combine.

Step 8 -Bring the turkey mixture to a simmer.

Step 9 -Add the parsley, the Italian seasoning, the salt, and the black pepper to the turkey mixture and stir to combine.

Step 10 -Cover the pot with the lid and reduce the heat to low.

Step 11 -Simmer the turkey mixture, while stirring occasionally, until thickened and the flavors meld together, about 5-10 minutes.

Step 12 -Add the cooked pasta to the sauce and stir until well-coated.

Step 13 -Transfer the pasta mixture to a 9x13-inch casserole dish.

Step 14 -Top the pasta mixture with the cheese.

Step 15 -Bake until the melted cheese is golden-brown, about 25 minutes. Cover with aluminum foil if the cheese starts to brown too much during baking.

Step 16 -Let the casserole cool for 15 minutes.

Step 17 -Serve.

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